WILL THE MEXICAN WOLF SPOIL PAGARA?S PARTY AGAIN?
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 15 Aug 2012
Jason ?El Ni?o? Pagara (28-2, 17 KO's) was in the midst of a banner year. Highlight reel knockouts against Indonesian Billy Sumba ? who stiffened and fell like a chopped tree ? and Mexican Juan Carlos Gallegos - who had saliva and blood spewing out of his mouth and nose after receiving Pagara?s one two combo - made casual fans sit up and take notice. He also had an impressive second round stoppage win over Tanzanian Deo Njiku, who hit the canvas thrice.
Then Rosbel ?Lobito? Montoya spoiled everything last September 10, 2011. Montoya?s first surprise was when he told the Cebu sports media that he had twenty (or more) fights not listed in his boxrec.com record.
On fight night, Montoya?s experience showed. He outfoxed and outpunched Pagara and won by unanimous decision win in front of a stunned sell-out crowd at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel. The scores underscored his dominance ? 97-93,96-94 and 99-91.
I was inside the Mexicans? dressing room when Mike Lopez, the resident cornerman for visiting Latino boxers here in Cebu, leaped inside with Team Montoya, yelling like madmen and waving the trophy that they won. It was not a world title belt but it sure felt like it inside that room that has seem countless frustrated foreign fighters falling by the wayside against the boxers from the ALA gym.
Eleven months after becoming only the second Mexican to win a fight here in Cebu, Montoya (36-4-1, 30 KO's) is back and faced Cebu sportswriters Thursday noon in a press conference held at the Mooon Caf? at the IT Park. He is scheduled to fight Pagara again in the main event of Pinoy Pride XV: The Rematch for the WBO International jr. welterweight title.
?I knew this fight was coming. I trained six weeks for this fight. I will not promise a knockout but I will adapt to the style of my opponent.? Montoya said.?I took advantage of Pagara?s style that night.?
Montoya?s most attention grabbing statement was ?His strength is just average. No, I was not hurt in that fight.?
Despite losing his last fight in Argentina to Claudio Alfredo Olmedo, Montoya showed calm and confidence when he spoke. Pagara?s last fight was a TKO over Indonesian Frans Yarangga in Bohol.
?I am happy that people here remember me because of that win. Now, I will try to win so you will remember me again.? Montoya added. ?That loss hurt us.? ALA Promotions VP Dennis Ca?ete told philboxing after the presscon, ?But it also gave Philippine boxing a good image. It showed that foreign fighters can win here if they really deserve it.?
The protagonists will meet again in tomorrow?s final press conference at the Waterfront Hotel. The weigh-in will be held at the SM Cebu City Mall on Friday noon and fight day will be at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel on Saturday.
Photo: Rosbel Montoya during today's presscon at the Mooon Cafe at IT Park in Lahug, Cebu City.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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